Saving Lives – Helping Kids Escape a Locked Car Trunk

We all know little kids love to climb. And hide-and-seek is often a favorite game. Unfortunately no matter how often you stress the danger, a car trunk can still look like a great place to play. That said, I think all of us would agree that with little kids around it’s a good idea to have an internal trunk release – especially since they are known to be the easiest and fastest way to escape from inside of a car trunk. What may not be commonly known however is that most vehicles older than model year 2002 do NOT have a trunk release accessible from inside the trunk compartment. An organization called Kids and Cars has made it a priority to not only pass on this information but to try and address the problem.

Kids and Cars‘ goals are to ensure that not only are children never left unattended in or around vehicles but also to support the design of safer vehicles that eliminate unnecessary deaths and injury to children. Kids and Cars maintains a national database tracking deaths and injuries to children left unattended in or around motor vehicles. Currently there is no federal or state agency that collects this information

In 2009, Janette Fennell, founder of Kids and Cars.org appeared on SpikeTV’s “Surviving Disaster: Home Invasion” during the segment on how to escape from a locked car trunk. Shortly after the broadcast, (upon receiving an abundance of requests), Kids and Cars began offering an after-market Emergency Trunk Release kit. If you do not currently have an emergency glow-in-the-dark trunk release, it is imperative you purchase one, whether from Kids and Cars or elsewhere; if you have one I highly recommend making sure every child knows what it is and how to use it.

Too many children have lost their lives after gaining access to a car trunk that did not have this simple safety device. Not a single trunk related fatality has been reported where one of these devices was installed.

The message is clear…we just need to hear it.

THE WILD ROBOT is Sensory Friendly 2x in October at AMC

Since 2007, AMC Entertainment (AMC) and the Autism Society have teamed up to bring families affected by autism and other special needs “Sensory Friendly Films” every month – a wonderful opportunity to enjoy fun new films in a safe and accepting environment. And this coming Saturday, The Wild Robot is Sensory Friendly at AMC.

The movie auditoriums will have their lights turned up and the sound turned down. Families will be able to bring in snacks to match their child’s dietary needs (i.e. gluten-free, casein-free, etc.), there are no advertisements or previews before the movie and it’s totally acceptable to get up and dance, walk, shout, talk…and even sing – in other words, AMC’s “Silence is Golden®” policy will not be enforced during movie screenings unless the safety of the audience is questioned.

Does it make a difference? Absolutely! Imagine …no need to shhhhh your child. No angry stares from other movie goers. Many parents think twice before bringing a child to a movie theater. Add to that your child’s special needs and it can easily become cause for parental panic. But on this one day, twice a month, for this one screening, everyone is there to relax and have a good time, everyone expects to be surrounded by kids – with and without special needs – and the movie theater policy becomes “Tolerance is Golden“.

Families affected by autism or other special needs can view a sensory friendly screening of The Wild Robot on Saturday, October 12th or Saturday October 26th (check your local theater for times). Tickets are typically 25% off for the sensory friendly screenings, depending on the location. To find a theatre near you, here is a list of AMC theatres nationwide participating in this fabulous program (note: to access full list, please scroll to the bottom of the page).

Also Sensory Friendly at AMC in October: Joker: Folie a Deux (Tues. 10/9)

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Editor’s note: Although The Wild Robot has been chosen by the AMC and the Autism Society as this month’s Sensory Friendly Film, we do want parents to know that it is rated PG by the Motion Picture Association of America for action/peril and thematic elements. As always, please check the IMDB Parents Guide for a more detailed description of this film to determine if it is right for you and your family.

Happy 15 Year Anniversary Pediatric Safety!

July 17, 2009

Can it possibly be 15 years since Pediatric Safety published its first story? It feels like just yesterday…yet so much has changed since then, and is continuing to change every day.

Back in 2009, our goal was to create a place where everyone who cares about children’s health and safety could get together to stay informed on all the topics that have the potential to affect them and the children in their care. We wanted to make a difference. It didn’t take long to realize that we couldn’t do it on our own.

So we reached out – to parents and doctors and nurses and emergency responders and teachers – to child safety experts around the world – and we asked them for help. And some truly amazing people stepped in to share the journey with us: a pediatrician, a character development and bullying prevention expert, a cybersafety specialist, a family dentist, an EMS safety expert, a child psychologist, a kids and canines specialist, a special needs parenting expert, and a food allergy specialist – all volunteered their time to help make this site a community where you can find answers and hopefully give answers to others when they need them.

We were also fortunate to be offered the opportunity to include NHS Choices articles on Pediatric Safety. NHS Choices is the UK’s biggest, most comprehensive health information website. The articles they have shared with us span the full range of child health and safety issues: from living with disabilities to surviving childhood bullying; from adoption and fostering to puberty and talking about sex; from asthma and allergies to health and fitness.

All told, Pediatric Safety has published almost TWO THOUSAND posts and over TWENTY THOUSAND tweets about child health and safety. And there is more to come, along with some major changes to the site, so please keep coming back and letting us know how we’re doing!

For now, we’d like you to invite you to join us as we celebrate our 15 Year Anniversary

We’re going to take a “look back” at the stories you’ve told us are your favorites – the ones you’ve told us have had the biggest impact on you and your family.

• Bronchiolitis or “Wheezy Bronchitis” and Kids
• Drowning: What Every Parent NEEDS to Know!
• Our Miracle Baby: Aidan’s Story of Surviving CDH
• Is it Too Young to Remove Wisdom Teeth at Age 13?
• In Memory of Noah…please watch your children around cars

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Finally we’d like to thank all of you who have taken this journey with us. At its heart, Pediatric Safety is a place where people can support each other – the village needed to raise a child. If we’ve been able to accomplish even a little of that, then this has been 15 years well spent. We look forward to sharing the days ahead. – with love and gratitude from all of us here at Pediatric Safety

Did You Know…Every 2 Weeks a Child Dies From a “Tipover”?

It’s not something we like to think about…and it certainly could never happen to us…but the reality is that every 2 weeks a child dies because an unsecured appliance or piece of furniture has toppled over onto them. In fact between 2000–2008, the CPSC received reports of nearly 200 tipover deaths among children 8 and younger. More than 90% of them involve children under 5!

Typically, injuries and deaths occur when children climb onto, fall against or pull themselves up on television stands, shelves, bookcases, dressers, desks, chests and appliances. Sometimes it’s the out-of-reach item placed on top of furniture, in other cases it’s the furniture or appliance itself that will topple causing serious if not fatal injuries. The CPSC has issued a warning, urging parents to inspect and secure these items. They also offer the following safety tips:

• Furniture should be stable on its own. For added security, anchor chests, dressers, TV stands, bookcases and entertainment units to the floor or attach them to a wall.
• Place TVs on a sturdy, low-rise base. Avoid flimsy shelves.
• Push the TV as far back on its stand as possible.
• Place electrical cords out of a child’s reach and teach kids not to play with them.
• Keep remote controls and other attractive items off the TV stand so kids won’t be tempted to grab for them and risk knocking the TV over.
• Make sure free-standing ranges and stoves are installed with anti-tip brackets.

One thing we often forget is that even when our own home has been thoroughly baby-proofed, our friends and family’s homes will likely not have received the same attention. It’s up to us to be vigilant…wherever we may be.

Today is National Heatstroke Prevention Day 2023!

Every year on average, 40 children die in hot cars in the US

What can you do??

• Always keep cars locked & keys out of reach of children. If a child is missing – check in all cars!
• Ask childcare to call you if your baby doesn’t show up as planned!
• A car is not a babysitter. NEVER leave a child or animal alone inside a vehicle, not even for a minute!
• See a child alone in a car? Get involved! Call 911 immediately
• If you think it can’t happen to you, please think again. (Ray Ray’s Story)

*Image credit: kidsandcars.org

Arts & Crafts and Poison Control: How to Keep Kids Safe

Did you ever notice how delicious some of those colored markers smell? Ever tempted to taste one? Ok, admit it…you’d never do it, but still you can’t say you haven’t at least thought about it. So, can we blame the 4 year old who thinks that the blueberry marker might just taste as good as it smells?

Unfortunately we sometimes forget that those pretty colored paints and crayons and markers look and smell so good because they’re made up of chemicals that are designed to make them look and smell good. And because little kids are attracted to bright, colorful things, and love to touch and taste (who doesn’t), we need to be extra cautious to make sure that glues, paints, crayons and other arts and crafts supplies are handled with care.

According to the Minnesota Poison Control: In a single year, the nation’s 57 poison control centers received more than 35,000 calls about exposures to art products; of these, more than 26,000 calls concerned children younger than 6. And the Virginia Poison Center highlights this list of art supplies to keep an eye on:

• Chalk contains calcium, and swallowing some typically does not cause poisoning. More serious problems can occur if the chalk lodges in the throat or is breathed into the windpipe, blocking the airway and causing coughs, difficulty breathing, or wheezing.
• Water-soluble markers usually don’t cause harm. Most other felt-tip markers don’t cause poisoning if small amounts of the ink are swallowed. A few markers may contain aniline dyestuffs, which, if a large amount is swallowed, can be poisonous.
• Erasers are not considered poisonous but could cause blockage or injury if lodged in the throat or breathed into the windpipe.
• School-type glues (such as Elmer’s®) generally are considered nonpoisonous. “Super glues” (such as Krazy Glue®) do not cause serious poisoning if a mouthful is swallowed; however, they cause mucous membranes and skin surfaces to stick together instantly. If “super glue” gets into the eye, the eyelids can be sealed together, resulting in lid injury and loss of lashes. Worse, “super glue” can cause serious damage to the eye’s cornea.
• If children swallow small amounts of water-based paint – including latex, tempera and poster paint – poisoning is not likely. Some latex paints do contain measurable amounts (5-10%) of glycols, so poisoning could happen if someone swallows a very large amount. Oil-based paints contain solvents that can cause acute poisoning if swallowed.

The National Capital Poison Center recommends the following safety tips:

• Read the label carefully, and follow all instructions for safe use and disposal.
• Discard products that have passed their expiration dates.
• Don’t eat or drink while using art products.
• Wash up – skin, equipment and environment – after use.
• Never use products to paint skin or decorate food unless the product is specifically labeled for that use.
• Store art products in their original containers locked up and out of the reach of children.
• Handle art products in accordance with your program’s guidelines for safe chemical use and storage.

Virginia Poison Center also suggests that “when choosing art supplies for use by children, consider the product’s certification. Many art supplies are imprinted with the seals of the Arts and Crafts Materials Institute. Products with the AP (Approved Product) seal are best for use by young children. Products with the CL (Cautionary Label) Seal are more appropriate for adult use.”

Finally…always better safe than sorry.

If a young artist eats a crayon or some glue, or gets paint in their eyes…OR …you’re simply unsure whether or not your child has been exposed to (or eaten) a toxic level of art supplies, use

• the webPOISONCONTROL^® online tool for guidance or
• call your local poison center at 1-800-222-1222 for advice or information.

For a more detailed description of arts and crafts Do’s and Don’ts, here is the official Art and Craft Safety Guide from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

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Some time ago, Audra, one of our editors, shared with us her story about her wonderful experience with “edible play dough.” What about you?? Ever called poison control for an arts and crafts mishap?